In BriefAnthony Albanese has visited the Soloman Islands. His visit comes off the back of a new alliance with Fiji, called the Ocean of Peace.<\/p>\n
Australia is aiming to sandbag key parts of the Pacific against Chinese influence, as the leader of the Solomon Islands calls for gaps in the region’s security framework to be filled.<\/p>\n
China has been widely condemned following its launch of a nuclear capable long-range intercontinental ballistic missile <\/a>from a submarine on Monday.<\/p>\n The missile firing came within hours of Australia and Fiji announcing a new defence alliance, leading to a strong public rebuke of China by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.<\/p>\n Marking Solomon Islands’ independence day in Honiara on Tuesday, Albanese was standing alongside counterpart Matthew Wale when he criticised the launch as “provocative”.<\/p>\n Wale, who is also the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, said there were gaps in the region’s architecture.<\/p>\n Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n Rather than acting as a deterrent, he said the missile launch reinforced the need for greater regional co-operation.<\/p>\n “In many ways the missile test is further evidence for the need for a regional platform so that the region can speak as one,” Wale said.<\/p>\n “Not all the countries in the Pacific are not all on the same level of strength and may not want to speak up when things like this happen.<\/p>\n “But a regional platform will allow cover and allow for much greater sharing of intelligence and information so we can be advocating better for Pacific wide issues.”<\/p>\n Albanese’s visit to the Solomon Islands follows the new alliance with Fiji, called the Ocean of Peace, being signed in Suva on Monday.<\/p>\n The agreement is Suva’s first mutual defence pact and allows other Pacific nations to join.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n The deal marks the second alliance sealed by the Albanese government in one year, along with the Pukpuk treaty with Papua New Guinea that comes into force on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Fiji has become Australia’s fourth formal ally, joining the US, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n The Ocean of Peace alliance joins the $500 million Nakamal agreement inked with Vanuatu <\/a>last week.<\/p>\n As negotiations progress between Australia and the Solomon Islands on a new treaty, Wale pointed to the agreements struck with other Pacific nations.<\/p>\n “They always say the best wine comes last … we certainly would be the last of the Melanesian countries,” he said.<\/p>\n “So, we expect the best wine.”<\/p>\n Earlier, the two leaders held a brief meeting at the airport moments after Albanese landed in the country.<\/p>\n The prime minister told Wale he hoped negotiations for the treaty could be finalised by the end of the year.<\/p>\n Albanese became the first foreign leader to address the Solomon Islands’ independence day celebrations.<\/p>\n He entered the national stadium alongside his counterpart and both were given floral garlands to wear.<\/p>\n The crowds gathered clapped as Albanese spoke at the event.<\/p>\n During the celebrations, Albanese announced a $10.2 million education package for the Solomon Islands.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n The funding will provide new books for every primary school student, infrastructure upgrades and an improvement in curriculum standards for up to 12 rural training centres.<\/p>\n The prime minister also visited the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre, built under a $45 million spend by Australia to expand maternal care in Honiara.<\/p>\n A memorandum of understanding was concluded to provide support and advanced training for the police academy in Honiara.<\/p>\n A policing deal struck between China and the Solomon Islands in 2022 sent shock waves through Canberra.<\/p>\n Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who joined Albanese on his Pacific trip, has previously described Australia as being in a “state of permanent contest in the Pacific”.<\/p>\n Australia is trying to win the diplomatic battle against China in the region and has inked numerous economic and security agreements.<\/p>\n For the latest from SBS News, download our app<\/a> and subscribe to our newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In BriefAnthony Albanese has visited the Soloman Islands. 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